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How to apply for a US passport for a baby

When applying for a new U.S. passport, each child under 16 must appear in person at a passport agency. Both parents must present with their child and co-sign the application form to show their consent. To check the nearest passport agency, check here.

When you have submitted your application materials, your passport agency will put your files in an envelope and mail it to the Department of State. The normal process time is 4 to 6 weeks. If you need to get a passport quickly, we can help you with expedited service. Our expedited processing time is 5 business days. If you have an emergency, will be traveling in 24-48 hours, we can provide extremely urgent service, which is one business day processing time.

Checking list for minors under 16

Fill out Form DS-11

Please complete your form DS-11 before come to a passport agency. But do not sign your name until instructed to do so by the acceptance agent.

If your child has a Social Security number, you must provide that on the application form.

If your child does not have a SSN, you must submit a signed statement including the phrase, “I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the following is true and correct: (Child’s full name) has never been issued a Social Security Number by the Social Security Administration.”

Foreign birth certificate (with parents’ name and translation, if necessary)

Consular Report of Birth Abroad (with parents’ name)

Adoption decree(with adopting parents’ names)

Divorce/Custody decree

Proof of ID and copy of ID: The parents/guardians must present one of the following identification documents (IDs) to the passport agency:

Valid or expired, undamaged, U.S. passport

Valid foreign passport

In-state, fully-valid driver’s license

In-state, fully-valid non-driver ID

Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship

Government employee ID (city, county, state or federal)

S. military ID or military dependent ID

Matricula Consular (Mexican Consular Identification)

Note for Photocopy of IDs:

Must provide photocopy of front and back of each ID

Photocopy cannot be double-sided

Photocopy must be on plain white, 8 1/2 x 11″ standard paper

Do not decrease the image size (although you may enlarge it)

Show Parental Consent

Both parents/guardians must authorize the issuance of the child’s passport. If one parent cannot be present, submit a notarized Statement of Consent (Form DS-3053) AND a copy of the parent identification.

Please Note: Written authorization from the parent that cannot appear in person must be less than three months old.

Proof of departure:

For expedited service, please provide a copy of your air ticket that departure in 2 to 3 weeks.

For extremely urgent service, please provide a copy of your air ticket that departure in 2 to 3 days.

Authorization letter:

Please pay our service fee first before asking us for the authorization letter. After you have paid, please contact us for the letter. Please fill the applicant part with your child’s information. Both parents are required to sign the letter in front of the Passport Acceptance Agent.

Calculate Fees:

Product

Application Fee Rush Service

Execution Fee

Note: Only Passport Book can be expedited processing. If you apply for a passport card at the same time, it generally takes 2-3 weeks for the passport card to be mailed to you.

Passport Book

$140

$25

Passport Book & Card

$155

$25

Check or money order of application fee should be made payable to: Department of State

Check or money order of execution fee should be made payable to: U.S. Postmaster or Clerk of Court.